Bronze sculptures, replicas of statues found at the Villa dei Papiri, are placed in their ancient findspots. A peristyle, or covered walkway, surrounds the formal garden and leads visitors past illusionistic wall paintings to spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

I saw this first in January 2013 in the main entrance hall. What a surprise! They're covering the rain collection pool.

A mostly exact copy of the original.

A view from the second floor balcony.

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Looking back, from another day.

Here he is again so you can admire his hair.

The original of this guy was there too and it was wonderful.

From the parking you pass though a series of walkways before arriving at this place:

You can't help but occasionally notice, lovely as it is here, that there is an element of 'Getty Lite'...

Let's watch them grow up!

It's full now and maybe even been trimmed. Actually, I hope they thin it out and put the flowers back!

Here we are at the fourth in the series, from January 2006 until July 2009.

This is part of the original building which remained intact except for refurbishments. Built in the early 1970s, it is based on the designs of a Roman villa buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.

In the entry-way of the gallery. Those eyes are historically correct and most of the statuary of this type has them. And when they don't it's even creepier because they leave the sockets empty.

Like the Getty Center, the gardens are a delight year-round. Notice how the big perfectly formed bloom sits all perky on top of its skinny little stem.

Handsome fountains...

...and my favorite statues that line the Inner Peristyle.

Aren't they lovely.

The original on loan from Naples for an exhibit of many originals from the excavation of the site of the Villa de Papiri

There are plenty of opportunities for PhotoPhoto!

An Easter view along the arcade.

Another view of the arcade.

There's a seating area just like this one on the other side of the pool.

Taking the sun.

Generally they position the statuary so you may enjoy it from many interesting angles and being outside these works absorb the qualities of the day. He's the same as the guy above but from a different angle and on a different day.

Again, looking back toward the main building.

The remodel included a greatly expanded Museum Store and Cafe. Are you surprised?

Looking out to more of the new space.

Hangin' out at the café.

From what they call 'the construction pit' situated off the gift shop.

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I asked about the geometric patterns here in the Inner Peristyle. The guide went on about Romans inventing cement. I'm guessing it has to be appropriate to the era or they wouldn't have done it.

The colors are not the same as before the renovation but the concept, or so they say, is still correct.

A focal point of the East Garden. The trees here are sycamore and laurel.

Some detail from the fountain.

More.

Water lilies from the fountain above. Ahh, so lovely.

Every floor is magnificent.

Entering the Herb Garden from the Outer Peristyle, looking up towards the pathway that leads to the parking.

A fountain in the the Herb Garden. The herb garden contains plants used during Roman times for flavoring food, ceremonial duties, and medicine.

The Getty Villa houses the J. Paul Getty Museum's collection of approximately 44,000 Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities. Over 1,200 works are on view in 23 galleries devoted to the permanent collection, with five additional galleries for changing exhibitions.

This is the controversial fifth-century B.C. statue usually identified as Aphrodite that the Getty is returning/has returned to Italy. There are other pieces involved in the controversy - the New Yorker did a nice article on the whole story in November 2007 which I think spoke rather well of the currently under siege Getty antiquities curator Marion True.

From a much bigger piece. Life could be lovely then...

...and nasty, brutish, and short.

With objects dating from 6,500 B.C. to A.D. 400, the collection contains monumental sculptures as well as artifacts of everyday life such as vases, coins, sculpture, and jewelry. Some of the objects, including a mummy, have never been on view.

They've got a fantastic collection of Greek pottery.

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A small metal piece displayed in a case.

Leda and the Swan.

Ummm, yummy, scarfscarf, dinner!

Whoo, look at these guys.

From the NY Times June 2006, more on the Give It Back It's Mine story (btw she was found not guilty):"Prosecutors at the conspiracy trial of a former curator at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles presented on Wednesday photographs of a pair of ancient marble griffins - one of the glories of the Getty's collection - lying in a car trunk, encrusted with grime and loosely wrapped in newspaper."

Yum, more dinner and another view of the fabulous griffins.

A strategically placed head...according to the guide this statue, an Olympic athlete cast in bronze, is one of only twelve left of what was once thousands of bronze athletes who graced the plazas of ancient Greek cities and towns.

This is another one of the pieces in dispute. You'll want to go experience this work while you can!

The Olympic wreath for the above athlete.

The guide spoke expansively on these pieces - The Poet Orpheus and the Two Sirens. I've hopped on to many tours now and each has been informative and entertaining.

They also have for 3 bucks a 30 hour self guided audio tour. You can keep it all day and just wander around. If I ever go by myself I'll give it a try.

Handsome fellow isn't he, and said it was J Paul Getty's favorite piece.

It's called The Lansdowne Herakles because Lord Lansdowne, Getty's ideal of what an art collector should be, once owned this statue and displayed him in his house in London.

On his floor, classic tile work.

A guide discussing one of the mummies.

He is hung in almost total darkness, in the mummy room, but what a guy.

Nice.

Some of the oldest pieces in the collection and among my favorites.

In Fall with the leaves gone you can more easily see the setting. Out there it's the Blue Pacific.